TNAG-0487-FCO40-552-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 209

SECRET

9. AS YOU SEE THE BASIC POSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS UN-

CHANGED, BUT THEY ACCEPT THAT FOR THE TIME BEING COMMUTATION BY

THE GOVERNOR OF ALL DEATH SENTENCES WOULD BE EXPEDIENT.

COUN

10. THIS UNDERSTANDING REACHED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IS NOT

ON THE RECORD, AND IS NOT BINDING IN ANY WAY. ON EACH CASE I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR ADVICE AS TO WHETHER CLEMENCY SHOULD BE EXTENDED OR NOT. HOWEVER, IN PRACTICE, I CAN COUNT ON ADVICE TO COMMUTE. THE PROCEDURE OF SENDING PAPERS TO LONDON IN ADVANCE WILL THEREFORE BE DISCONTINUED SO LONG AS I REMAIN CONFIDENT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S

ATTITUDE,

THE

11. WHILE I HOPE YOU WILL FIND THIS INFORMAL UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNCIL REASSURING, I MUST ASK THAT ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD ANY PUBLIC REFERENCE BE MADE TO IT. I SHOULD ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT IT COULD BREAK DOWN UNDER PRESSURE OF EVENTS HERE, OR IF THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE OPEN BY E G VENTILLATION IN THE PRESS OR IN

PARLIAMENT.

12. MY SUGGESTION AS TO ANSWERS TO P.Q.S ARE IN M IF T.

MACLEHOSE

FILE S

HKIOD

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD

MR YOUDE

MR RUSHFORD

(LEGAL ADVISERS)

3

SECRET